Kyrgyzstan trekking tours lead you into mountains where roads end: over passes of 3,000–4,000 m, to turquoise alpine lakes such as Ala-Kul, Song-Kol and Kol-Ukok, and across the summer pastures (jailoo) where shepherd families live in yurts from June to September. Below you will find all our 13 treks – from a 2-day trip to Kol-Ukok (from $170) and 3-day treks to Ala-Kul or Song-Kol (from $280) to 10–15-day expeditions in the Alay and the Pamir. Every trek is private: your group, your dates, a local guide, and pack horses wherever the route needs them.
Choose your trekking tour
| Tour |
Days |
Season |
Price p.p. |
Best for |
| Kol-Ukok Lake Express with Kol-Tor hike |
2 |
May–Aug |
from $170 |
Short trip from Bishkek, yurt night, glacier lake |
| Song-Kol Jailoo Trek from Kyzart |
3 |
Jun–Sep |
from $290 |
First trek, day pack only, shepherd yurts |
| Ala-Kul Lake Trek from Karakol |
3 |
mid-Jun–mid-Sep |
from $280 |
Classic Karakol trek, 3,900 m pass, hot springs |
| Kol-Ukok Lake Trek to Tuura-Suu |
4 |
Jul–Sep |
on request |
Two passes near 3,900 m, tents, pack horses |
| Kulun-Ata Lake Trek |
4 |
Jul–Sep |
on request |
Undiscovered south, 4,008 m pass |
| Alay Heights – on foot or on horseback |
6 |
Jul–Sep |
on request |
Tulpar-Kol lakes below Lenin Peak |
| Jeti-Oguz to Ala-Kul via the Teleti pass |
8 |
Jun–Sep |
on request |
Two high passes, Ala-Kul and Altyn-Arashan |
| Jailoo Hopping: Shamshy to Song-Kol |
9 |
Jun–Sep |
on request |
145 km on nomad pastures, six passes |
| Jyrgalan to Ala-Kul and Jeti-Oguz |
10 |
Jun–Sep |
on request |
Full Terskey traverse, yurt camps |
| Alay Mountains & Yukhin Peak (5,130 m) |
10 |
Jul–Sep |
on request |
A 5,000 m summit without technical climbing |
| Asian Patagonia Trek: Karavshin & Ak-Suu |
10 |
Jul–Sep |
from $900 |
Granite walls, 4,390 m pass, experienced hikers |
| Song-Kol Grand Trek from Belogorka |
13 |
Jul–Sep |
on request |
215 km, eight passes – the long way |
| Pamir Highway & Yak Trek (with Tajikistan) |
15 |
Jul–mid-Sep |
on request |
Pamir, yak caravan, Wakhan corridor |
Prices are per person and depend on group size – on request means we calculate your exact price within 24 hours. For horse treks see our
horse riding tours in Kyrgyzstan.
Why trek in Kyrgyzstan
- Wild and quiet: more than 90% of the country is mountains, and on most routes you meet shepherds rather than other trekking groups.
- Nomad life on the trail: you sleep in yurts with herding families, drink kymyz and eat bread fresh from the oven.
- Easy to reach: visa-free for most European travellers; from Bishkek or Osh you are on the trail the same day.
- No porters’ loads on your back: pack horses carry the luggage on the multi-day treks, you walk with a day pack.
Trekking regions
Karakol and the Terskey Ala-Too (Issyk-Kul)
The classic region with Lake Ala-Kul (3,530 m), the Ala-Kul pass (about 3,900 m) and the hot springs of Altyn-Arashan. Start with the
3-day Ala-Kul trek, add the Teleti pass on the
8-day Jeti-Oguz – Ala-Kul trek or cross the whole range from Jyrgalan on the
10-day Terskey traverse.
Song-Kol, Kol-Ukok and the central Tian Shan
Wide pastures, nomad yurts and high lakes. The
3-day Song-Kol trek from Kyzart is the easiest way to reach Song-Kol on foot; the
9-day Jailoo Hopping trek and the
13-day Grand Trek from Belogorka take the long way from the Chuy valley. Kol-Ukok lies above Kochkor:
2 days with a yurt night or
4 days over two passes.
The south: Alay, Turkestan range and Pamir
Higher, remoter and for fit hikers: the Alay valley below Lenin Peak (
6-day Alay Heights,
10-day Yukhin Peak trek), the granite walls of the
Karavshin – “Asian Patagonia”, the
Kulun-Ata lakes and the
Pamir yak trek with Tajikistan.
How hard is trekking in Kyrgyzstan?
Our routes are graded 3 (moderate) to 5 (demanding) on each tour page. Moderate treks mean 4–6 hours a day with 500–1,000 m of ascent on good paths – fine for anyone who hikes regularly. Treks with passes above 3,800 m and 10+ days need good fitness and some experience at altitude. The first day is usually shorter to help you acclimatise. Most trails are not marked, so you always walk with a local guide.
Best time for trekking in Kyrgyzstan
The season runs from mid-June to mid-September. In June the pastures are greenest but some high passes can still hold snow; July and August are the warmest months, with all yurt camps open; early September brings clear air and fewer visitors. From late September the herders leave the high pastures and most treks close.
Frequently asked questions
Which trek is best for beginners?
The
3-day Song-Kol trek (day pack only, nights in shepherd yurts) and the
2-day Kol-Ukok trip are the easiest. The
3-day Ala-Kul trek is short but crosses a pass of about 3,900 m.
How much does a trekking tour in Kyrgyzstan cost?
A 2-day trip starts at $170 per person and 3-day treks at $280–290; longer expeditions are priced for your group size and dates. The tour page lists what is included – usually the guide, meals on the trek, yurts or tents, pack horses and transfers.
Do I have to carry my luggage?
No. On the multi-day treks pack horses carry the main bags; on short yurt treks you only need a day pack because beds and meals wait at the camp.
Are the treks private or in a group?
All our treks are private for your own group, usually 2–12 people, on the dates you choose. Single travellers are welcome – ask us.
Do I need a permit?
Most routes need no permit. For treks close to the borders we arrange the border-zone permit; you send us a passport copy a few weeks before the trip.
Where do we sleep?
In yurts with shepherd families or in yurt camps on most routes, in tents on the remote sections, and in guesthouses in the villages at the start or end.
